I am an ambassador for Trailhead Cycling and have been riding this bike since the start of the 2016 season. So far, I have over 1,000 miles on it and what a bike! It is light, agile and stiff yet comfortable. This bike, in size large, comes in at just a hair over 16 pounds and you can feel it accelerate forward with every pedal stroke. It climbs effortlessly without any of the frame movement/creaking associated with lesser made bikes. This is due to Giant's new carbon frame lay-up for 2016, along with the new SLR carbon wheel-set. Do some research and try to find another carbon road bike that is equipped with a full Ultegra drive-train and carbon wheels, for similar pricing. It does not exist. The only thing I have had to do so far is replace the stock 23c tires with 25c. They wore out rather quickly, and the 25c tires help with some road vibration and bumps. All around-one of the most amazing road bikes I have ridden. If you are looking for a race geometry bike, you cannot go wrong with the Giant TCR!

It has been a windy spring. I have waited to get 2000 miles on this bike before submitting this review so I can say I really know this bike. Having test rode a Giant Propel and seeing how well it cut through the wind, the Propel was not the bike for me living in the hilly Ozarks. Having owned five previous TCRs going back to the 2002 Giant TCR Team Once edition, which I purchased from Spokes, to the first generation carbon TCR and a few others I picked up along the way, the TCR has always been my favorite frame, and I have ridden Colnago, Bianchi, Wilier, Trek, and Orbea. None of them with the exception of the Colnago which came close are as much fun to ride as the TCR.
I took too long of a break from cycling, which I regret. When I decided to get back on the bike, I went into a local shop looking for a TCR. They sold me on the Defy pushing TCR characteristics to make the sell. I rode it for 4500 miles disappointed. It's not a bad bike, but it is nowhere near a TCR.
Late last year, I contacted Spokes and told them what I wanted. This was a sweet deal based on the wheels and component package. You can't get this much bike for the price anywhere else than Giant.
I just put my 2000th mile on this bike since getting it in January. It is incredible.
My concerns where the wheels. My Defy came with early versions of Giant wheels. I wasn't impressed. I wondered if I really wanted to pay the extra to get Giant SLR carbon wheels. No regret. They are incredible wheels and I am considering purchasing the dish version that come on the Propels.
The bike is without a doubt is the best TCR yet. I love how Giant has taken what it learned in the wind tunnel and applied characteristics that are practical for the TCR. This has been a windy spring and I am impressed at how the TCR cuts through the wind better than its earlier editions.
This bike has been challenged on intense climbing rides like Springbike's old Dogwood Metric Century that goes deep into the Ozark's Mark Twain National Forest for some long, steep climbs. The Strava PR's speak for themselves over the advantage it has over the 2015 Orbea Orca I rode last year, which always seemed noodley. This bike is stiff and you feel the transfer of energy from the cranks through the frame and to the pavement. This is something that has always made the Giant TCR a favorite of mine as if you have the advantage of a motor inside the fame when you are moving up among riders with ease.
The other day, I had a Giant Propel come up on me from out of nowhere. Not to be undone, I showed him what the TCR could do. He couldn't keep up. It's incredibly fast and efficient.
I have nothing but praise for the new Giant TCR frame. It is the perfect bike.